What's worse than being blackmailed to attend a hidden school where you're treated like a second-class citizen? How about nearly getting eaten by a monster when you arrive? Or learning that your soulmate was killed in a centuries-old secret war? And then there's the evil king who's determined to rule the world unless you can stop him...Meet Kaya, a young woman with the power to heal and the determination to fight. But struggle as she will, she remains tied to three very different men: a hero who has forsaken glory, a tyrannical ruler who wants to use Kaya, and a warrior who's stolen her heart. Kaya learns the hard way that some ties can't be broken...and blood is the strongest bond of all.

I have not read anything by Heather Brewer, but I understand from reviews I've read of her books, and the blurb for Soulbound, that her books have a lighter and humourous tone, which I usually like. Add to that a female protagonist wielding a sword, and Soulbound should be a win.

Sara Jane Rispoli is a normal sixteen-year-old coping with school and a budding romance--until her parents and brother are kidnapped and she discovers her family is deeply embedded in the Chicago Outfit (aka the mob).Now on the run from a masked assassin, rogue cops and her turncoat uncle, Sara Jane is chased and attacked at every turn, fighting back with cold fury as she searches for her family. It's a quest that takes her through concealed doors and forgotten speakeasies--a city hiding in plain sight. Though armed with a .45 and 96K in cash, an old tattered notebook might be her best defense--hidden in its pages the secret to "ultimate power." It's why she's being pursued, why her family was taken, and could be the key to saving all of their lives.

Cold Fury is being billed as The Sopranos meets The Bourne Identity, which indicates that it should be a fast-paced and intelligent thriller, and that is enough to get my attention.

Harper has never been worried about falling in love, something she is skeptical even exists. But everything changes when Logan moves to town, and to Harper's shock, the two tumble into an intense romance. It's everything she never thought she wanted.Then she meets Logan's twin brother, Caleb, who was expelled from his last school. True, he's a bad boy, but Harper can't shake the feeling that there's something deeply sinister about him--something dangerous. When Logan starts pulling away, Harper is convinced that Caleb's shadowy past is the wedge being driven between them. But by the time she uncovers the truth, it may be too late.

Dangerous Boy is a retelling of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which is an adaptation that I would be very interested in reading. I am a little nervous from reading the blurb that Dangerous Boy is perhaps too literal an adaptation, making it too predictable though.

How about you? Are you waiting on any of these Penguin Summer 2012 reads? Are there any upcoming books from the Penguin Summer 2012 Catalog that I didn't include here that you feel I should add to my list?

I hadn't heard of Soulbound and Cold Fury before. I love me some kick-butt heroines so thanks for the heads-up. Dangerous Boy piqued my curiosity the most. I haven't read The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but there's going to be a movie adaptation of the book here in the Philippines so I'm watching it to know more about the story.

I'm really looking forward to Soulbound out of the three, but the book from Penguin that I'm extremely excited about is My Life Next Door because it sounds cute and perfect for the summer.

On an unrelated note, I checked out Pottermore and have to agree that I might be a little too old for it. I just really wanted to see what house I'd get sorted into. I thought it would be Ravenclaw but apparently I'm a Slytherin girl. Who knew? I'll take it if it means I get to hang out with Tom Felton look-alikes ;)

Yes, I featured My Life Next Door in my Spring 2012 Edition of Penguin's Catalog because I think technically it comes out in spring. But yeah, it does sound perfect for summer!

So you're a Slytherin girl, eh? I never would have guessed :) And yeah, getting sorted and getting a wand were the main things I wanted, besides Jo's new writing. If only Pottermore had come out a decade ago...

All of these books sound AMAZING, Aylee! Even though I didn't get the vibe of light humour in Soulbound, it's what I enjoy too so I can't wait to read it. I haven't watched The Sopranos but crossing it with The Bourne Identity makes Cold Fury sound awesome. I really want to read Dangerous Boy now, so intriguing!